We have noticed a significant amount of attention being directed towards this website lately, both from the general public and from current and former members of Golden Dawn Tabernacle. In fact, Pastor Isaac Noriega even mentioned this website during one of his recent sermons as he attempted to defend his actions. With that in mind, we would like to clarify the purpose of this website.
Vision Statement
We hope to bring awareness about the history and leadership practices of Golden Dawn Tabernacle / Tabernaculo Emanuel Church to the public in order to assist current and former members of the church. Our vision is to provide support and information to those who may have been affected by the actions of the leadership team at Golden Dawn Tabernacle and may have family or friends within.
Purpose Statement
The purpose of highlighting the questionable and abusive practices of the church is to hold the leadership team accountable and to provide resources for current members to become informed about issues within the church that they may not have been aware of. Our goal is to empower current and former members to make informed decisions about their involvement in Golden Dawn Tabernacle. We also hope to provide a way for individuals to leave the church and find freedom if they desire it.
Mission Statement
We plan to accomplish our vision and purpose by gathering comprehensive, factual information about the history of the church and its leadership team through the use of public records and interviews with current and former members. We will verify the accuracy of this information through documented sources and witness accounts. Our goal is to create a comprehensive repository of information about Golden Dawn Tabernacle that can be shared with both current and former members, as well as the general public, in order to increase awareness and understanding of the church's history and practices.
Challenge to Pastor Isaac Noriega and Church Leadership
During his recent comments about our COVID-related post, Isaac Noriega stated that all COVID-related decisions were made by the deacon board and that he considered canceling services but ultimately the deacon board decided to continue holding them. Are there any deacon board meeting minutes that document this decision and show who voted in favor of continuing the services, or is Isaac simply trying to shift the blame to his leadership team?
Isaac also addressed the post we made about church-owned property and stated that he used his own money to purchase his former residence (which is currently tax-exempt) and that is why there is a 50/50 ownership between Tabernaculo Emanuel and his son Matthew Jonah Noriega. Are there any trustee board meeting minutes that document the approval of this transaction in the church's name and detail which funds were used? It seems questionable to put the property in the name of the church and his son if Isaac claims to have used his own funds for the purchase. Why was the property placed in the name of the church and Matthew if Isaac used his own funds for the transaction?
Isaac stated that we are simply sharing public records and not exposing anything new. Isaac is correct, our intent is to use the public records to document the historical facts surrounding the church, but in a comprehensive manner so that our readers can holistically understand the way the church operates. However Isaac seems to be defensive about these posts despite the fact that they are based on public records. If there is nothing questionable in these records, what is there to be defensive about?
Our challenge to Pastor Isaac Noriega and the Church Leadership Team (Deacon Board, Trustee Board and Secretary/Treasurer) is this: provide transparency and accountability to the current and former church members by doing the following:
- Deacon Board Meeting Minutes & Votes: Prove that you have a duly elected deacon board with voting authority by publishing deacon board meeting minutes and votes.
- Trustee Board Meeting Minutes & Votes: Prove that the trustee board is duly elected with voting authority by publishing the trustee board meeting minutes and votes. There are a lot of church transaction documents that claim that Tabernaculo Emanuel is a "unincorporated religious association acting through its duly elected trustees and Isaac Noriega as its founding pastor and Matthew J. Noriega as associate pastor." Are those duly elected trustees truly empowered to act in the best interest of the church and not in the best interest of Isaac and Matthew Noriega?
- Church Financials: Publish Church financials to provide transparency and to address questionable transactions such as loans, purchases, etc. Who authorized those loans? Who authorized those purchases? Is there co-mingling of funds between the church and Noriega family personal funds? Why is the church claiming tax exemptions on non-church property?
If the Isaac Noriega and the church leadership have done nothing wrong, then they should have nothing to hide.
An Appeal to the Current Members of Golden Dawn Tabernacle:
We understand that you may feel afraid and uncertain about the current situation at the church. We believe that most of you have good intentions and are dedicated, selfless, hardworking, and intelligent individuals. However, it appears that Isaac and a corrupt leadership team are taking advantage of your dedication and using fear to keep you trapped. It is tragic to hear that the actions of the church leadership have resulted in conflicts within families, bitterness, depression, hopelessness, despair and even deaths. We care about you and want to help in any way we can. If you are feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about your involvement in the church, please know that there are resources available to support you. You deserve to be treated with respect and to make informed decisions about your involvement in the church. Please do not hesitate to reach out for help if you need it.
You may contact us below, anonymously, or if you would like us to respond to you, please provide an email address or phone number.
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Archived Comments
2 comment(s) imported from the original site:
Anonymous — March 27, 2023
I use to go to Tabernaclo Emanuel/ now Golden DawnTaberbernaclo. One day Isaac Noriega called to tell me my husband had not been paying his tithes. I told Isaac Noriega I was not aware of this. Isaac Noriega told me as a wife I was supposed to be a helpmate to my husband. I was very embarrassed and told my husband what Isaac Noriega had told me. My husband informed me he was a month behind. I don’t believe a pastor should pit a husband and a wife against each other. I believe Tithes and offerings should be paid but tithes and offerings should be a personal thing between you and God.
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